Mitsubishi Outlander vs. Subaru Forester

Comments

the Edge & Equinox are out- staying away from GM and have the MKX- whihc is a nedge + 5K- like the car- but gas guzzler -and the egde interior is teribble IMO...

biggest wants in features (besides warranty and reliability)-room for car seats and dog in the rear.....rear sensors are a biggie- forgot to mention- seems to be a dealer installed option at the level of CUV....good MPG- 20 at least in mixed driving..want a nice interior- good leather, astheticly pleasing...good features-useful display, good steror, bluetooth, i-pod hook-up (controlled through stereo if possible)flat folding seats are important- for storage- i.e. trips to costco, house chores..

must be AWD- dealbreaker there...

the Sante fe rear vent is a cool feature for the golden retriever on hot days...

the Fuse feature is very similar to Sync- so that is a BIG plus..power tailgate feature would be nice- don't think I'll get that here...

Interesting comment about blue tooth. I haven't looked at 2010 Outlanders, but the blue tooth module used to be standard on XLS and was a few hundred $ option to add the module on the LS (no LS models these days) . The steering wheel controls are there in all models (except apparently the ES), and you have to add the module and have the dealer enable it. If this has changed (requiring the whole NAV package) it's sad. As others may have mentioned a lot of add-on GPS have blue tooth , so you could do your own GPS/Blue tooth a lot cheaper going this route. Otherwise, if you really want the steering wheel controls I'd check again to see if you can add the module without the NAV package..(somehow I think the salesman wants to sell you a "package" for more when the service department can add just the option. I added my own factory fog lights after the fact to my LS and just had the dealer enable it for free since the alternate instructions for a user to program it didn't work)

Old school Subaru owners just wanted AM for news and weather band. They were up in arms when the digital era arrived and they dropped weather band, LOL.

You can get Bluetooth in Outback without opting for Nav, I believe. Actually, you may want to add the Outback 2.5i Limited to your shopping list. Wards Auto gave the Outback the Interior of the Year for the Popular-Priced Car class for 2010. In the small SUV class they gave the nod to the Equinox.

The interior on the Forester Limited is fine to me. The leather is perforated so it breathes, and you don't end up with a sweaty back/legs, a problem with our old Mazda 626. The steering wheel and gear shift knob are also wrapped in real leather. Beyond that, the surfaces are hard, but that's par for this class. The moonroof is gigantic (26" long vs. 11.5" for the Outlander) and really brightens up in inside, makes it feel airy. It serves the front and rear passengers. My kids love it.

Also, on the Premium and Limited models, you get a fold-out tray in addition to the arm rest. That partition keeps my 2 kids at peace, and there is storage for toys and their portable video games.

We got a vent-mount, which locates the GPS close to the driver, within easy reach. Most of the time I toss a hat over the GPS and you can't even tell it's there. NYC is probably a higher crime area, but if you route the power source in to the HVAC vent you could hide it completely.

Let's see, what don't I like about it? Full disclosure...

* square cup holders. Fire the guy who thought of that.* passenger seat is low and not height adjustable.

Pretty much all models in this class offer that. That's why this class is so popular and growing.

rear sensors are a biggie

You mean sonar backup sensors? Outlander offers the backup cam but it's packaged with Navi. Forester offers rear backup sensors, but I haven't felt the need for them because visibility to the rear is excellent. This page shows exterior options including the sensors in the rear bumper:

That's iffy for the V6 or the turbo. Consumer Reports got 19mpg in their Outlander V6, 20mpg on on the turbo Forester. The 2.4l CVT Outlander and the Forester X (non-turbo) averaged 22mpg. If you can drive stick, the 5 speed manual Forester had the best mileage among non-hybrids at 24mpg. The catch - you can't get a Limited with the manual, only a base or Premium (you still get heated seats and a moonroof, though).

want a nice interior- good leather, astheticly pleasing...good features-useful display, good steror, bluetooth, i-pod hook-up (controlled through stereo if possible) Check out the Outback. I think a USB input is standard even on the cheap models. iPod hookup is an accessory available on the Forester.

flat folding seats are important

Agreed.

looking in the 25-28K range

Forester would be on the low end of that range, Outback towards the high side.

haven't driven anything yet- want to figure out what i want before I get to the dealer- hate stepping foot inside- this purchase will be done online- credit union price (USAA) vs. best internet price i can get- once I get a fair price - i know i have to test before then- but I HATE the whole dance one has to go through- and the dealerships over here are so terrible...unless I am blown away by one vs another on the drive it will most likely come down to items mentioned prior- keeping in mind my current CUV is the first one i've driven that I actually like....so I am sure either one will pass the muster on the test drive....

outlander is too wagon-like for my taste- only 30- not at the mini-van/wagon stage of life just yet....

as for MPG- 20 is the guideline + or - a mile here or there isn't a huge issue- obviously for the V6 225 HP or so i could sacrifice a mile here or there- although the 22 on the Forester is def. attractive...

don't want an OEM navi- so back-up camera looks to be out- but both Forester and Outlander seem to offer reverse sensors as an accessary- currently have it in the MKX and can't do with out it- for parking and safety....

The backseat room and at least moderate storage is a must as well- which is why rogue was cut out (along with CVT issues)...

i suppose last issue is dealership- Can't seem to find a well liked dealer in my area for either Subaru or Mitsu- although one or two Subaru dealers about 50 mon away seem to get positive reviews....

Never considered our rally red Outlander as old and farty, but maybe I'm too old and farty to notice! Not sure the Forester is any less farty given your criteria, unless you get that the XT with the turbo intake, and add some bitchin' rims.

Sounds like you want a curvy CUV, but with space, so you can pretend to be young and vital, yet still be able to cart around passengers and gear in relative comfort. I think you already dismissed the Murano, but maybe that's your magic car!

We were able to get a child seat + a booster in the 3rd row of the Outlander so doing so i nthe 2nd row shouldn't be a problem.

Out 14 pound rat terrier fits just fine.

rear sensors are a biggie

I still like the cam better but understand the need to keep costs down.

good MPG- 20 at least in mixed driving..

My first half dozen tanks were in winter and were breaking in the engine. On those I was getting 17.3-19.4MPG in mostly city driving. The last couple of weeks I've done a lot of highway driving and have gotten 22-24, mostly 23+ while driving at 75-85MPH. Lifetime average so far is 20.9MPG - 4574 miles and 218.9 gallons. I track economy & expenses in a simple Excel spreadsheet. That's mostly on mid-grade gas in a V6 GT.

I like the clean look of the Outlander interior. It isn't overdone with knobs & buttons everywhere. Of course the nav consolidates some controls which helps. The non-nav interior looks a little busier but still fine. The leather is on par for the class. Mitsu always provides good features for the price. iPods can be voice controlled via Fuse; the USB plug is in the center console along with the A/V inputs so the MP3 player can stay hidden.

If you can swing the sun and sound package you get the killer stereo & the sunroof.

A note on Bluetooth. You can use an outboard BT system like the one in a handheld GPS but it lacks integration. An incoming call won't pause or mute the stereo (and resume when done). Sounds like a small thing but when the phone ringing is already a distraction, really the last thing you need to do is be hunting for buttons to shut off the stereo. Also, the Outlander includes dual mics for voice pickup; audio quality is pretty good. The BT in my Magellan was barely servicable and I would up not even using it.

Another feature is the FAST keyless entry. Grab the door handle and it unlocks (programmable for just that door or all doors at once which I chose). Hit the button when you leave & it locks. The fob never leaves your pocket. Combined with the climate control and the GT's auto-on headlights & rain-sensing wipers there's just less stuff you have to deal with; the car does it for you.

You can use an outboard BT system like the one in a handheld GPS but it lacks integration. An incoming call won't pause or mute the stereo (and resume when done).

True, but the Forester has a mute button right on the steering wheel, so no hunting. Plus now you can get Bluetooth on every single model, so it's a non-issue.

If you get a RAV4, though, beware - my Sienna does NOT have a mute button on the steering wheel (is the RAV4 the same way?), so in the Toyota fushigi's concern applies. You gotta hit Volume Down, down, down, down, down on the steering wheel controls, then up, up, up, up, up when the call is complete.

The Outlander sunroof is definitely deeper than 11.5", more like 14" which is more than enough for a driver and passenger, which is most often is the case for us. Sure, a deeper sunroof would be nice, but not terribly necessary and probably more to leak!

I don't think BT would be near as useful if you had to mess with mutes or volumes. Sort of detracts from the whole "hands free" thingy.

I like to use the sunroof for venting and am not sure I'd actually like having one so long. But I can certainly see where some would prefer it.

Having a mute button is an adequate compromise though I still prefer the integration as in my admittedly limited experience the speakers on the portable GPS' don't go load enough in phone mode & the mics don't have adequate noise cancellation. I also like that the Outlander's nav screen displays the cell signal strength & battery meter.

As to headsets/over-the-ear BT receivers, I get annoyed at anything on/in my ear so they aren't tolerable for anything but short trips. Also, back in the '70s when Walkmen were gaining in popularity we were told - and in some places laws were enacted - to not wear headphones as they reduce/block our ability to hear emergency vehicles.

The OP mentioned he wanted Bluetooth for phone integration and all Foresters offer that now, so I don't see any issue whatsoever for him.

For me, the Garmin works well except with the top down, then I have to use a headset (I usually only use my right ear). I'm not sure if Mazda offered Bluetooth how well that would work, as the mic would pick up wind noise.

In a closed car it works fine. I use vent mounts which bring the GPS closer to me (for reach to the touch-screen and speaker/mic proximity).

I had a loaner Tribeca and honestly the long reach to the GPS touch screen was a bigger issue to me.

Just looked at our Outlander sunroof. While the outer measure is about 14", the fully opened measure is about 12", which is still perfectly fine. I know some don't care about tilt, but I like the option. if anything, it helps with buffeting if you just want to crack a single window.

I had an opportunity to compare our leather seats vs. Benz leather. While the Benz leather had a slightly better tactile feel, I found seat comfort to be better on the Outlander. Mitsubishi is well-known for their seats.

Where I didn't care about FASTkey when we first got the car, I've grown to really enjoy the convenience. Only thing better might be push button start, but I like the physical key option if FASTkey batteries die.

Gas mileage is getting incrementally better, but this aspect has been the biggest disappointment. But I really should not complain since we knew what we were getting into, with a larger vehicle, 6 cylinders and all-whatever drive.

Good point. Subaru has done quite well with IIHS tests for years. Mitsubishi has gotten considerably better, as have most cars. We were very fortunate not to suffer any major scraps in our Colt or Mirage, since both by today's standards would be considered death traps!

In other news, I finally messed around with the Outlander paddle shifters. Not quite as much fun as a meaty clutch, but not bad. I imagine I'll let the AT do much of the work much of the time.

I haven't had a car with a MT as my daily driver since '93 but I still find myself resting my hand on the gear shift. For my past couple of cars that's been insignificant but now I could, if desired, use it or the paddle shifters to force up or, more likely, down shifts.

I've done some downshifting ahead of passing maneuvers a couple of times and have used it when I wanted to engine-brake to slow down without brake lights coming on *cough* cop car ahead *cough*. But for the most part I just let the AT do it's job.

I had blissfully ignored the ominous clouds, and jabbed my finger at the button, springing the sunroof tilt-ward. The gentile combination of windless transport and the secret language of birds, who knew this was the harkening of events yet to transpire.

Standing in the bagel shop line, distracted by the heady smells of fresh baked circles of dough, that's when the deluge happened. Setting aside my paper bag, I bolted for the parking lot, to save leather seats and threat of festering musts and molds.

Much relief, as the tilted portal to the sky allowed very little liquid sunshine to invade the sanctity of the crispy dry interior. De-tilted and unfettered, I returned home, safe in the celebration of the joys of tilts and birds and bagels.